Rep. Parker Griffith and Rep. John Boehner are scheduled to appear together at a fundraiser next week that has drawn the ire of local groups.

Washington (CNN) - An Alabama congressman has managed to inspire a certain level of political bipartisanship, but not in a way that will make his colleagues jealous.

Former Democratic Rep. Parker Griffith rocked the political world in December when he switched parties and announced he would seek re-election as a Republican.

And now, only a few months later, his decision has prompted an unlikely coalition to form that is opposed to his re-election.

Democrats, Republicans and politically likeminded groups aligned with both political parties announced they will protest a fundraiser scheduled for March 8, in Huntsville. The headliner: House Minority Leader John Boehner.

The involved parties share a goal, but have vastly different motivations. The Huntsville Tea Party said they will use the event to send GOP leaders the message that Griffith isn't their first choice.

"We are sending a message to the national Republican establishment: stay out of our primary," said Christie Carden, founder of the Huntsville Tea Party. "We also want to support the true conservative candidates that Tea Party activists and the local GOP have gotten behind ... We're pushing back against the political machine."

On the other side of the aisle, the AAMU Democrats Student Club took a swing at Griffith for abandoning the Democratic Party.

"We want it to be clear that our opposition is not based on his politics but rather his complete lack of integrity and character," said club president Sharda Lofton. "It is our position that Mr. Griffith is an unprincipled opportunist lacking the kind of values and political ability to make critical decisions in the best interest of the citizens of North Alabama."

soundoff(80 Responses)

This is Great! I have a lot more respect for the Tea Party now. They're not just a bunch of nitwits after all.

March 5, 2010 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Fed Up

Would rather they unite about what a loser John Boehner is. If he ever gets to be Speaker, he is one of the few who could make Nancy Pelosi or Denny Hastert look competent.

March 5, 2010 02:18 pm at 2:18 pm |

AndyBlue

Teabaggers are a small group of white christian racists who dream of the old days when they could control the blacks and chastise anyone who isnt a christian extremist.

These are the same people who fought civil rights and integrated schools. in the 60s.

These are the same conservative EXTREMISTS who fought the end of slavery over a hundred years ago.

These are the people that make up the 52 percent of "so-called" christians who salivate over torturing muslims.

These teabaggers dont speak for myself or the MAJORITY of Americans.

Fox news instigates these extremists into flying planes into IRS offices and to shoot police officers at the pentagon.

Fox news proudly touts that they lead with 1.5 Million people tuning in daily.

Let me remind you all that this means almost 299 MILLION Americans do NOT tune into Fox news daily.

Hopefully we are past the extremism and disgrace of the Bush/Republican years.

Let the teabaggers scream with their hatred. Fox news and the republicans own that group of misfits.

March 5, 2010 02:19 pm at 2:19 pm |

hazy626

I think the article is fairly clear. Americans are not about trends, it's about principles. If you don't have integrity then don't apply. If you can't bring that to Washington then we don't want you. I think we're in for a new breed of political candidate and the politicians and the major parties still don't get it.

March 5, 2010 02:20 pm at 2:20 pm |

Limbaugh is a liberal

Yeah right. The Tea Party talks and talks, but at the polls guess whom they will vote for! The republican, no matter who that is! They are liars and hypocrites!

March 5, 2010 02:21 pm at 2:21 pm |

me

Everybody in Washington should be done this way! Get ALL the bums out...start with Boehner!

March 5, 2010 02:23 pm at 2:23 pm |

if I was crazy, I'd be a conservative too

According to the republican memo that was leaked, the republican party caters to the reactionary, ego driven, and extremely negative. It is interesting that the GOP continues to get their campaign money from people they do not even like or respect.

March 5, 2010 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

Ruth

Strange bedfellows may produce strange offspring...

March 5, 2010 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

Gary

I don't trust anyone who hangs with Boner!!

March 5, 2010 02:25 pm at 2:25 pm |

Albert R. K. . L.A., CA

Sad that any true working-class people, who have seen the wealth of the middle-class evaporate into the global corporate economy, believe their family-needs are represented by the Republican Party which works only to protect global corporate interest. Many of them fall for that "right to life" campaign they use but have never read Roe v. Wade which is based on protecting the right of the mother's life because childbirth is deadly and has always been a major cause of death among women. The Republican leaders have held up health care reform for over a year, causing millions of Americans to go without health care and still they claim they care about a "
right to life." All they care about is insurence and cglobal orporate greed!

March 5, 2010 02:26 pm at 2:26 pm |

if I was crazy, I'd be a conservative too

So the tea party people are going to protest a fund raiser with Agent Orange.

March 5, 2010 02:26 pm at 2:26 pm |

j

He wouldn't be my first choice either but then neither would any other Republican or Conservative.

March 5, 2010 02:27 pm at 2:27 pm |

I am the Great and Omnipotent Wizard of Rush and I Say . . .

Griffith is getting banged from both sides, just like Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Wallmart).

Maybe people who have strong principles, whether right wing or left wing, just don't like hypocrites

March 5, 2010 02:29 pm at 2:29 pm |

Throw the bum out

"Mr. Griffith is an unprincipled opportunist." I couldn't have put it better myself. Can't wait to see you join the ranks of the unemployed, Parker.

March 5, 2010 02:36 pm at 2:36 pm |

hongli

The Republicans and the Tea -Party Groups are a pack of COWARDS.

March 5, 2010 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |

dale

This seems to be happening a lot as these politicians care more about getting re-elected than doing the best job for the people.
Solution: Anyone elected under a particular party or as an independant should be required to resign their position prior to or immediately upon changing their affiliation.

March 5, 2010 02:38 pm at 2:38 pm |

buckwheat

As I have said before, all of these tea parties are organized by the Democrats to split the vote in the next election. We have too many parties now.

March 5, 2010 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

Repugnants are Taliban

This is just exactly what an opportunistic moron like this deserves, jumping parties to try and keep his job. Now he finds both sides of the aisle do not desire him and wish him to go away and get a real job. This also has to hit Dumb Boner right between the eyes as he is supporting and speaking for this clown and both sides are protesting an event where the Orange Boner is showing up for fundraising, how sweet it all is.

March 5, 2010 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

Objective Thinking

So when someone switches from Republican to Democrat (Spectre) then he's "doing the right thing and putting country ahead of party." But if someone switches from Democrat to Republican (Griffith) then he's "an unprincipled opportunist." Gotcha.

March 5, 2010 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |

Staying in Context

Let our Powers Unite! I am Captain Politico!

March 5, 2010 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

The lonely Libertarian of Liverpool NY

Wow, now this is what I call the second awakening of the American people.
Don't be fooled again by these professional politicians. It is time to clean house. After all what these people do is NOT rocket science. They are suppose to find common ground and compromise to effect the proper representation of the people in their district, not just be representatives of their party. November sure is going to be a new era of elections in America.

March 5, 2010 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

Bob

How stupid.. This political hack just thinks it will be easier to get reelected if he changes party's. There seems to be no limit or line these guy wont cross to get reelected. Must be something really rewarding in Washington. Like money ??????????

March 5, 2010 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

dale

Hey,
Another spector. Look at the fools out east. Spector is leading in the polls. How stupid are these people?

March 5, 2010 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |

Monkey wrench

When do these bloodsucking "entitled" Americans looking for what government is going to give them figure out that the well is dry, are you that stupid? Without a Free market and thriving economy, all those government subsidies, entitlements and handouts are gonna dry up faster than you can say Made in China...Government has grown too big, too intrusive, too full of overpaid and under productive workers, too full of self serving liberal lawyers skewing our social morality in the name of freedom, and too controlled by lobbyists and special interest monies. 2010 is time for a real change and I'm not talking about the socialistic view of what Obama deems a Utopian society either. Badges?, we don't need no stinkin' badges we can VOTE THEM OUT!